Adam Simon is usually hard at work behind the scenes as managing director of the Actors' Theatre of Columbus. But this summer, after four years helping to guide the theater troupe without being seen much by theatergoers, Simon is commanding attention onstage. He is generating laughs – often, at the expense of his larger-than-life but visibly flawed character – in the plummy role of Falstaff in Actors' Theatre's production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. Shakespeare's rollicking comedy continues through Sunday Aug. 31 in the Schiller Park amphitheater. "It's a bit daunting, having a role this size in a venue this size," said Simon, 36. "But Falstaff is an iconic role, so unlike anything else out there," he said. "I couldn't pass it up."

Adam Simon is usually hard at work behind the scenes as managing director of the Actors’ Theatre of Columbus. But this summer, after four years helping to guide the theater troupe without being seen much by theatergoers, Simon is commanding attention onstage. He is generating laughs – often, at the expense of his larger-than-life but visibly flawed character – in the plummy role of Falstaff in Actors' Theatre’s production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. Shakespeare’s rollicking comedy continues through Sunday Aug. 31 in the Schiller Park amphitheater. "It’s a bit daunting, having a role this size in a venue this size," said Simon, 36. "But Falstaff is an iconic role, so unlike anything else out there," he said. "I couldn’t pass it up."

Elizabeth Harelik as Mistress Ford, left to right, Adam Simon as Sir John Falstaff and Michelle Weiser as Mistress Page, in Actors' Theatre of Columbus production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. Photo by Nick Pershing.

Simon is making his Schiller Park stage debut as Falstaff, a man of greed, lust and other gargantuan appetites. "I actually love being offstage, though I acted for a long time before deciding to step away from it," Simon said. "Although I prefer producing, directing and working backstage, this is one of those roles that is so much fun. The role has a rich history.... There’s also the joy and terror of being onstage with John Feather, who has played rrole of Falstaff before." Director Beth Kattelman cut down the play, especially its "weaker" subplots, in order to focus more on the central story of Falstaff, one of the Bard’s richest comic characters. "The play’s theme (revolves around) jealous husbands and scheming wives who plot to get back at them," Kattelman said. "Falstaff knows two ladies control the purses in their two households and thinks they’ll spend their money on him. He needs that because he spends all his money and likes living the good life, having drinks and having fun." The two-act play revolves around pranks pulled on the vain and lecherous Falstaff by Mistress Ford and Mistress Page, two married women and best friends that he blindly pursues. "Falstaff has his plots and his schemes that are discovered almost as soon as they’re hatched," Simon said. "This is a chance to create a totally self-serving character and one not at all likable... But Falstaff is funny, too. He makes people laugh and he pokes fun at himself."

IF YOU GO The Merry Wives of Windsor Actors’ Theatre, Schiller Park amphitheater, German Village Contact: 614-444-6888, www.theactorstheatre.org Showtimes: 8 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays through August Admission: free, donations accepted